Washington, D.C. (September 7, 2012) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) today announced the release of a new print ad, entitled "Rift," which points to the deep split among rank and file Democrats when it comes to supporting Israel. This rift is a sad example of how much the party has changed over the years.

The ad reads, in part: "At the Democratic Party convention in Charlotte, NC, it's become painfully clear that this Party is no longer the Democratic Party of our parents' generation. This week has witnessed a shocking series of events. These regrettable incidents reveal a Party that has wandered far from its origins."

The ad will run next week in 11 Jewish newspapers as full-page ads in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Nevada.

RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said, "Important pro-Israel language was stripped from the Democrats' platform this year, including lines recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and calling Israel America's 'strongest ally'. When they tried to reinstate the language on Jerusalem, the convention chairman couldn't get a clear two-thirds vote and just declared the language added – receiving loud boos from the convention floor.

He continued, "This is a sad display by the Democratic Party and is an indication of how much the Democratic Party has changed in recent years. It was chilling to watch; who could have imagined the day when supporting Jerusalem would be resoundingly booed at a Democratic convention?"

Washington, D.C. (September 7, 2012) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) today announced the release of a new print ad, entitled "Rift," which points to the deep split among rank and file Democrats when it comes to supporting Israel. This rift is a sad example of how much the party has changed over the years.

The ad reads, in part: "At the Democratic Party convention in Charlotte, NC, it's become painfully clear that this Party is no longer the Democratic Party of our parents' generation. This week has witnessed a shocking series of events. These regrettable incidents reveal a Party that has wandered far from its origins."

The ad will run next week in 11 Jewish newspapers as full-page ads in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Nevada.

RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said, "Important pro-Israel language was stripped from the Democrats' platform this year, including lines recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and calling Israel America's 'strongest ally'. When they tried to reinstate the language on Jerusalem, the convention chairman couldn't get a clear two-thirds vote and just declared the language added – receiving loud boos from the convention floor.

He continued, "This is a sad display by the Democratic Party and is an indication of how much the Democratic Party has changed in recent years. It was chilling to watch; who could have imagined the day when supporting Jerusalem would be resoundingly booed at a Democratic convention?"

(September 5, 2012) The Republican Jewish Coalition notes with grave concern that delegates to the Democratic Convention voiced significant opposition to efforts to amend the party platform so as to reinstate pro-Israel language from previous years.

Rank and file Democrats expressed strong opposition to a resolution to reinstate pro-Israel language that had been removed from the 2012 platform, forcing convention chairman Antonio Villaraigosa to call the voice vote three times. Each time the "No's" were noticeably stronger; in fact, CNN reporter Dana Bush was quoted as saying, "It seemed pretty to clear to me that the 'No's' had it." (1)

There were loud boos from the convention floor when the chairman overruled the delegates and announced that the resolution passed.

RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said, "This is a very sad day. To hear delegates on the floor of the Democratic convention strongly voice their opposition to recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, then boo when the chairman passes the resolution to adopt that language, is a shock.

Brooks continued, "This unfortunate incident highlights the split among rank and file Democrats when it comes to the critical issue of Israel, something we've seen for some time. Gallup polling has shown that Republicans have been consistently more likely to support Israel than Democrats for over a decade.(2) It is painful to see that demonstrated so clearly in this national forum."

(2) According to a Gallup poll released on March 2, 2012, "Republicans continue to be far more likely than independents or Democrats to sympathize with the Israelis." In that poll, Republican support for Israel was 78 percent while Democrat support was at 53 percent, a 25-point difference. The graph at the link shows the deep split in Republican/Democrat support for Israel over time. http://www.gallup.com/poll/153092/americans-continue-tilt-pro-israel.aspx

(September 5, 2012) The Republican Jewish Coalition notes with grave concern that delegates to the Democratic Convention voiced significant opposition to efforts to amend the party platform so as to reinstate pro-Israel language from previous years.

Rank and file Democrats expressed strong opposition to a resolution to reinstate pro-Israel language that had been removed from the 2012 platform, forcing convention chairman Antonio Villaraigosa to call the voice vote three times. Each time the "No's" were noticeably stronger; in fact, CNN reporter Dana Bush was quoted as saying, "It seemed pretty to clear to me that the 'No's' had it." (1)

There were loud boos from the convention floor when the chairman overruled the delegates and announced that the resolution passed.

RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said, "This is a very sad day. To hear delegates on the floor of the Democratic convention strongly voice their opposition to recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, then boo when the chairman passes the resolution to adopt that language, is a shock.

Brooks continued, "This unfortunate incident highlights the split among rank and file Democrats when it comes to the critical issue of Israel, something we've seen for some time. Gallup polling has shown that Republicans have been consistently more likely to support Israel than Democrats for over a decade.(2) It is painful to see that demonstrated so clearly in this national forum."

(2) According to a Gallup poll released on March 2, 2012, "Republicans continue to be far more likely than independents or Democrats to sympathize with the Israelis." In that poll, Republican support for Israel was 78 percent while Democrat support was at 53 percent, a 25-point difference. The graph at the link shows the deep split in Republican/Democrat support for Israel over time. http://www.gallup.com/poll/153092/americans-continue-tilt-pro-israel.aspx

Going back to 1972*, Democratic Platform Affirmed Jerusalem as Capital of Israel

Washington, D.C. (September 5, 2012) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition announced today the release of a print ad asking, "What is Missing from Obama's 2012 Democratic Platform?" The ad shows that several pro-Israel provisions in the 2008 Democratic platform are missing from the 2012 document.

The ad will run as a full page in Thursday's Charlotte Observer and then in Jewish papers next week in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Nevada.

This year, Democrats stripped out language that appeared in their 2008 platform saying that Jerusalem "is and will remain the capital of Israel" and language saying the issue of Palestinian refugees should be resolved by their settlement in a Palestinian state, not in Israel. The Democrats also removed language from 2008 calling for the isolation of Hamas and weakened the provision about ensuring that Israel retains a qualitative edge for self defense. The platform also stripped out language, which had previously been included, calling Israel "our strongest ally in the region."

RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said:

This will run as a full-page ad in the Charlotte Observer on Thursday, so that we can send a special message to Pres. Obama and the Democratic Party during the Democratic National Convention. Then it will run in Jewish newspapers in Florida, Ohio, Nevada, and Pennsylvania next week.

The changes to the Democrat Party platform raise serious questions about Pres. Obama's and the party's commitment to Israel. It is clear from the platform that the Democrats are backing way from Israel at a critical time. This is yet another reason why Jewish support for Democrats continues to erode.

Going back to 1972*, Democratic Platform Affirmed Jerusalem as Capital of Israel

Washington, D.C. (September 5, 2012) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition announced today the release of a print ad asking, "What is Missing from Obama's 2012 Democratic Platform?" The ad shows that several pro-Israel provisions in the 2008 Democratic platform are missing from the 2012 document.

The ad will run as a full page in Thursday's Charlotte Observer and then in Jewish papers next week in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Nevada.

This year, Democrats stripped out language that appeared in their 2008 platform saying that Jerusalem "is and will remain the capital of Israel" and language saying the issue of Palestinian refugees should be resolved by their settlement in a Palestinian state, not in Israel. The Democrats also removed language from 2008 calling for the isolation of Hamas and weakened the provision about ensuring that Israel retains a qualitative edge for self defense. The platform also stripped out language, which had previously been included, calling Israel "our strongest ally in the region."

RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said:

This will run as a full-page ad in the Charlotte Observer on Thursday, so that we can send a special message to Pres. Obama and the Democratic Party during the Democratic National Convention. Then it will run in Jewish newspapers in Florida, Ohio, Nevada, and Pennsylvania next week.

The changes to the Democrat Party platform raise serious questions about Pres. Obama's and the party's commitment to Israel. It is clear from the platform that the Democrats are backing way from Israel at a critical time. This is yet another reason why Jewish support for Democrats continues to erode.